At least 128 people have died in a fire in a Hong Kong apartment complex, according to authorities in the Chinese territory who said emergency services appeared to have extinguished the deadliest residential fire in its modern history.
As many as 79 people were injured. It is unclear how many people are still missing. Authorities warned that the death toll could continue to rise.
The fire broke out on Wednesday in Wang Fuk Court, a typical Hong Kong residential complex with apartment blocks more than 30 storeys high, in Tai Po about 20km from the territory’s commercial centre. The flames quickly spread to seven of the estate’s eight towers.